A life saved, but now family struggling

The family of a 13-year-old boy from a remote area who received a stem cell transplant is now struggling to pay their medical bill, Shanghai Children's Medical Center said yesterday.

They are appealing to the public for help.

The boy, called Wen Hao, comes from Junlian County in southwestern Sichuan Province.

His mother, Liu Xingcui, has raised 150,000 yuan (,000) so far, but that only covers half the cost.

Wen was diagnosed with leukemia in a county hospital in late 2011 when he had fever that could not go down.

Liu brought him to Shanghai for better treatment, using 6,000 yuan she had borrowed.

They then came to the city for five years for annual chemotherapy.

However, Wen's situation deteriorated this year and blood tests showed his life was in danger.

He was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and had to receive platelet transfusions twice a week. The weekly 4,000 yuan medical expenses soon burned up Liu's further borrowings.

The family came to Shanghai Children's Medical Center, which is also China's largest transplant hospital for children. Fortunately, they found a matched donor in the China Marrow Donor Program in March.

The hospital reduced the bill, but the family still could not afford to pay it.

To avoid the13-year-old missing the precious transplantation opportunity, the hospital made an exception for the family and conducted the stem cell operation last Friday.

The operation is the first step of the treatment, and Wen still faces more challenges during treatment to avoid rejection, which will add to the bills.

Liu says she just wants her son to be able to go to school and enjoy life like other children.

To learn more about Wen Hao's situation and make a donation, please contact the hospital by phone: 386-26161*82031.